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霅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
霅zháthunderzg, 15 strokes, radical 雨
霅zhásurname Zhaunknown, 15 strokes, radical 雨
霅zhàthunderzg, 15 strokes, radical 雨
霅zhàsurname Zhaunknown, 15 strokes, radical 雨
zhà(zha4)
primary
T4
  1. 1thunder
Also a Chinese surname, Zha — see the Surname Dictionary
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

霅zhà(zha4)

The character 霅 (zhà) primarily refers to thunder, representing a natural phenomenon often associated with storms and rain. It is also used as a surname in Chinese culture, though it is relatively uncommon. In literature and poetry, 霅 may symbolize power and the intensity of nature.

Strokes15Radical雨
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, thunder is often associated with strength and authority, appearing in ancient texts as a symbol of divine intervention or the power of nature. The character 霅 may be used in poems or proverbs that evoke natural forces.

Memory Tip

Imagine a dramatic storm cloud (the radical 雨 represents rain) bursting with thunder. The sound 'zhà' resembles the rumble of thunder, making it easy to remember that this character evokes the power of nature.

Meanings of 霅

zhà(zha4)
primary
1thunder
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 霅

霅Simplified
15Strokes
雨Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 霅

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Podcast: 霅

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 霅

Usage Notes

While 霅 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in literary contexts or discussions about nature. Be cautious not to confuse it with more frequently used characters for thunder, such as 雷 (léi). Always use the correct tone to avoid misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

As 霅 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, focus on its components, such as the rain radical, to connect it with other weather-related words. This character can help expand your vocabulary around natural phenomena, which may appear in HSK readings.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 霅 in casual conversation, thinking it is a common term for thunder. Instead, they should use 雷 (léi), which is the standard term for thunder in everyday language.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 霅

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Etymology of 霅

Formation TypeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory Hint

The sound 言 of a storm 雨

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 霅

  1. 1The giveawayThe sound 言 of a storm 雨
  2. 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 霅? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 霅?

Decomposition of 霅

IDS Structure⿱雨言
霅Full Character
=
雨yu3
top
言yan2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 霅?

How to say thunder in Chinese

“thunder” in Chinese is霅zhá

The character 霅 (zhà) primarily refers to thunder, representing a natural phenomenon often associated with storms and rain. It is also used as a surname in Chinese culture, though it is relatively uncommon. In literature and poetry, 霅 may symbolize power and the intensity of nature.

When to use 霅

While 霅 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in literary contexts or discussions about nature. Be cautious not to confuse it with more frequently used characters for thunder, such as 雷 (léi). Always use the correct tone to avoid misunderstanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 霅 in casual conversation, thinking it is a common term for thunder. Instead, they should use 雷 (léi), which is the standard term for thunder in everyday language.

Write 霅

霅

Practice writing 霅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 霅

Words Containing This Character1
霅zhàsurname Zha
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 霅 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 霅

The correct pronunciation is 'zhà', with a falling tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 霅?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.